Valve member

ABSTRACT

A valve member operative for use in an internal combustion engine and which incorporates evaporation-condensation heat transfer structure. The valve member has a head and a stem extending therefrom and a hermetically sealed cavity therein lined with a capillary flow medium and containing a volatile and condensible working fluid which establishes heat-transfer flow paths within the valve member by repeated evaporation and condensation of the working fluid.

United States Patent 0wsley et a1.

1451 Oct. 31, 1972 [54] VALVE MEMBER [72] Inventors: Herbert B. Owsley;Stuart E. Bunn,

both of P.O. Box 388, Shawnee Mission, Kans. 66201 22 Filed: March8,1971

21 Appl.No.: 121,933

[52] U.S. Cl. ..123/41.16, 123/188 A, 123/188 AA [51] Int. Cl ..F01l3/14 [58] Field of Search..l23/4l.16, 41.31, 41.34, 41.41,

123/188 A, 188 AA, 188 GC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,369,063 2/1945 MCDill ..123/41.16 2,611,348 9/1952 Lindsay ..123/4l.162,548,092 4/1951 136111611 et al 123/188 A 1,823,452 9/1931 HCX'OII.123/188 A 2,440,461 4/1948 Clements ..l23/4l.l6 3,233,599 2/1966SCllObBl' ..125/41 .16

Primary Examiner-A1 Lawrence Smith Attorney-Fishbum, Gold & Litman [5 7]ABSTRACT A valve member operative for use in an internal combustionengine and which incorporates evaporationcondensation heat transferstructure. The valve member has a head and a stem extending therefromand a hermetically sealed cavity therein lined with a capillary flowmedium and containing a volatile and condensible working fluid whichestablishes heattransfer flow paths within the valve member by repeatedevaporation and condensation of the working fluid.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucm m2 3.701, 342

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Herbert B. Owsley BY Stuart E. Bunn ATTORNEYS VALVE. MEMBER The presentinvention relates to valve structures and more particularly to valvesfor internal combustion engines and the like. V

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a valvemember operative for use in an internal combustion engine and whichincorporates evaporation-condensation heat transfer structure totransfer heat from a head to a stem upon application of heat adjacentthe head thereof; to provide such a valve member having a head and astem extending therefrom and ahermetically sealed cavity therein linedwith a capillary flow medium and containing a volatile and condensibleworking fluid which establishes heat transfer flow paths within thevalve member by repeated evaporation and condensation of working fluidtherein; to provide such a valve member having a reservoir ofnoncondensible fluid positioned in a condenser section of the cavity toeffect a temperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface for fluidevaporated in an evaporation section of the cavity in response toapplication of heat thereon; to provide such a valve member operative toremove heat from a head thereof and transfer heat to a stem portion andto dissipate heat from the stem; to provide such a valve memberoperative to effect a substantially equal temperature in a valve headand a valve seat receiving same to prolong the life thereof; to providesuch a valve member operative to cool the head thereof by heat transferto a stem portion thereof to thereby substantially reduce heat corrosionparticularly on a face and head portion thereof; and to provide such avalve member which is positive in operation, completely self-contained,efficient in the transfer of heat from the head to the stem portionthereof, and which is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include anexemplary embodiment illustrating various objects and features of thevalve member which incorporates evaporation-condensation heat transferstructure.

FIG. I is a fragmentary sectional view of a cylinder in an internalcombustion engine having intake and ex haust valves embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of said valves.

, FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3,FIG. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein,however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments aremerely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various formsthat are different from those illustrative embodiments presented herein,therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for theclaims actually defining the scope of this invention. In this regard, itis to be recognized that valve members which incorporate heat transferflow paths therein, in accordance herewith, may beembodied in variousforms and furthermore that such valve members may bevariously shaped andpositioned in an internal combustion engine. However, the disclosurehereof is presented only as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention invirtually any appropriate detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment, the reference numeral 1 generallydesignates valve member operative for use in an internal combustionengine 2 and includes a head portion 3 and a stem portion 4 extendingtherefrom and having a hermetically sealed cavity or vacuum chamber 5therein which is lined with a capillary flow medium or material 6 toform a capillary structure saturated with a volatile and condensibleworking fluid and a reservoir 7 of noncondensible fluid positioned in acondenser section 8 of the cavity or vacuum chambers to'provide atemperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface for fluid evaporated in anevaporation section 9 of the cavity or vacuum chamber 5 in response toapplication of heat thereon, as for example, ignition of a suitable fuelor fuel mixture within eachcylinder 10 of the internal combustion engine2 to thereby establish an evaporation-condensation heat transferstructure.

The internal combustion engine 2 having the valve member 1 therein maybe of any suitable structure employing intake and exhaust valves, suchas having a plurality of cylinders 10 each having a cylinder block 11and a head 12 thereby defining a space for reciprocation of a suitablepiston 13 therein in response to ignition of a suitable fuel or fuelmixture within a space between a face of the piston 13 and the head 12,as by suitable ignition means, such as a spark plug (not shown).

Cylinders 10 of internal combustion engines preferably have a pair offluid flow passages 15 and 16, intake and exhaust respectively, with thefluid flow passages 15 and 16 each being in fluid communication with theinterior of the respectivecylinder 10 through separate apertures oropenings 17 and 18 respectively. The apertures or openings 17 and. 18are respectively and alternately opened and closed by intake and exhaustvalves 19 and 20 respectively. The head portion 3 of the intake andexhaust valves 19 and 20 is in engagement with valve seats 21 and 22respectively except when fluids are flowing through the passages 17 and18.

The stem portion 4 of the intake and exhaust valves 19 and 20 haveextensions 23 and 24 respectively which each extend through therespective head 12 of the internal combustion engine 2 and into aposition to be contacted by suitable means for moving the valves 19 and20 to open and close the apertures or openings 17 and 18 respectively,such as valve lifters 25 and 26 respectively which are operative toalternately open the respective valves 19 and 20 against the resistanceof suitable resilient members, such as springs 27 and 28 respectivelywhich are operative to maintain the respective valves 19 and 20 in aclosed or seated position until engaged by the respective valvelifters25 and 26.

The valve members 1 of the present invention are each operative totransfer heat from the head portion 3 to the stem portion 4 and todissipate heat fromthe stern portion. Internal combustion enginespreferably have means for receiving heat from valve stems and conveyingthe heat away from a combustion area, such as a water jacket 29surrounding the cylinders 10, and in the illustrated engine, walls 30and 31 define guides for movement of the valves 19 and 20 respectivelythrough the water jacket 29 which is operative to cool the engine andthe walls 30 and 31 by moving the water through a suitable radiator (notshown).

In the illustrative embodiment of the valve members 1, the head portion3 is positioned at one end thereof with wall portions 32 defining thestem portion 4 and extending from the enlarged head portion 3 andterminating at an open end 33 thereby defining the cavity 5 whichextends between the open end 33 and a closed end at or within theenlarged head portion 3. A closure and seal member 34 is secured in theopen end 33 to hermetically seal the cavity 5 and retain the workingfluid therein.

The head and stem portions 3 and 4 and the closure and seal member 34may be any suitable material which will be stable at expected operatingtemperatures, such as metals including steel, stainless steel, andsuitable steel alloys, such as those including nickel, copper, and thelike.

The capillary flow medium 6 is disposed contiguous and in engagementwith the interior surfaces of the wall portions 32 defining the cavityor vacuum chamber 5 and the capillary flow medium 6 extends between thehead portion 3 and the reservoir 7 and may be any suitable material,such as cloth, glass fiber, wire screen, porous ceramic and the like.The capillary flow medium 6 is saturated with a suitable volatile andcondensible working fluid which is sufficiently volatile to vaporizethat portion of the working fluid within the evaporation section 9 whenthe valve 1 is heated adjacent the enlarged head portion 3, as byignition of fuel in the cylinders to establish anevaporation-condensation pattern in the working fluid and capillary flowmedium 6, as later described. Mercury, bismuth, and glycerine have beenfound to be suitable working fluids to accommodate various temperatureranges.

The reservoir 7 is positioned in the cavity or vacuum chamber 5 and isdisposed adjacent the closure and seal member 32 and contains anoncondensible fluid providing a temperature-stabilizing fluid-vaporinterface thereby defining the condenser section 8. The vaporized fluidflows from the evaporation section 9 adjacent the enlarged head portion3 to the condenser section 8 and returns to the evaporation section 9through the capillary flow medium 6 where the fluid is again vaporizedthereby establishing an evaporationcondensation flow pattern.

In operation of valve members constructed as illustrated and described,heat is applied to one end of the valve 1 adjacent the enlarged headportion 3 thereof, as by ignition of fuel in respective cylinders, tovaporize the volatile and condensible working fluid in the evaporationsection 9 thereby causing same to flow or travel through the cavity 5toward the condenser section 8 where heat is transferred to the walls 30and 31 of the water jacket 29 and the working fluid engages thereservoir 7 of noncondensible fluid thereby cooling and condensingtheworking fluid and providing a temperature-stabilizing fluid-vaporinterface which allows the condensed working fluid to return to theevaporation section 9 through the capillary flow medium 6 whereby heatagain vaporizes the working fluid in the evaporation section 9 for flowto-the condenser section 8 thereby establishing anevaporation-condensation flow pattern and heat transfer in the workingfluid and capillary flow medium 6. The heat applied adjacent theenlarged head portion 3 is thereby conveyed to the condenser section 8in the stem portion 4 whereby the heat is transferred from the headportion 3 to the stem portion 4 and then to the water jacket 29 throughthe guide walls 30 and 31 by conduction.

The valve lifters 25 and 26 engage the extensions 23 and 24 of theintake and exhaust valves 19 and 20 respectively and are operative incooperation with the springs 27 and 28 to alternately move the valves 19and 20 to open and close the apertures or openings 17 and 18. The stemportion 4 of the valves 19 and 20 remains in engagement with the walls30 and 31 during their respective movements to permit continuousdissipation ofv heat from the respective stem portions to the portionsof the water jacket 29 engaged thereby.

The head portion 3 of the valve 1 is thereby rapidly cooled by theevaporation-condensation flow pattern within the vacuum chamber orcavity 5 and the tem perature differential between the head portion 3and the stem portion 4 of the valve 1 is substantially reduced.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described oneform of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an internalcombustion engine having a combustion chamber with intake and exhaustpassages and valve seats at the combustion chamber ends of said passagesand valve guide means, a valve member comprising:

a. valve means having a head with a seat engaging portion to close therespective passage and a stem extending from said head, said valve meansbeing reciprocably mounted in the valve guide means;

. an internally sealed cavity within said stem and extending from thehead and contiguous to external surfaces of said stem;

c. capillary means disposed contiguous the walls of said cavity;

. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem remote from the valve head; and

e. a charge of working fluid within said cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation pattern to remove heat from said valve stem andtransfer same to the stem end portion.

2. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamberends of said passages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising:

a. an elongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;

b. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity;

means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head por' tion to said stern portion, said means establishing theevaporation condensation flow pattern including a capillary flow mediumdisposed contiguous the wall portions defining the cavity and extendingbetween said head of said valve body and adjacent said cavity sealingmeans and a charge of working fluid in said cavity; and

. means cooperating with thevalve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem to thereby cool said head of said valve body.

" 3. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamberends of said .passages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising:I

a. an elongated valve body having an enlarged head with aseat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;

b. a reservoir in said cavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealingmeans and containing a noncondensible fluid providing a temperaturestabilizing fluid vapor interface;

c. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity;

d. means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head portion to said stern portion; and

e. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem to thereby cool said head of said valve body.

4. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamberends of said passages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising:

a. an elongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;

. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity;

means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head portion to said stem portion, said means establishing theevaporation condensation flow pattern including:

l. a reservoir in said cavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealingmeans and containing a noncondensible fluid providing atemperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface;

2. a capillary flow medium disposed contiguous the wall portionsdefining the cavity and extend ing between said head of said valve bodyand said reservoir;

3. a charge of volatile and condensible working fluid in said cavity;and

4. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem to thereby cool said head of said valve body.

5. In an internal combustion engine-having a com bustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamberends of said passages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising:

a. an elongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;

. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity;

. means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head portion to said stem portion, said means establishing theevaporation condensation flow pattern including:

1. a fluid evaporation section within said cavity and disposed adjacentthe closed end of said valve body;

2. a fluid condenser section within said cavity and disposed adjacentsaid cavity sealing means;

3. a reservoir containing a non-condensible fluid and disposed in saidfluid condenser section to provide a temperature-stabilizing fluid-vaporinterface;

4. a capillary flow medium disposed contiguous the wall portionsdefining the cavity and extending between said fluid evaporation sectionand said fluid condenser section;

5. a charge of volatile and condensible working fluid in saidhermetically sealed cavity; and

. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem to 7 thereby cool said head of said valvebody.

6. A valve member for use in internal combustion engines having acombustion chamber with intake and exhaust passages communicating withthe combustion chamber and having valve seatsat the combustion chamberends of said passages and valve guide means, i said valve membercomprising:

a. an elongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stern portion extendingtherefrom, saidvalve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;

b. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity;

c. means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pat tern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head to said stem portion;

d. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem to thereby cool said head of said valve body;

e. means within said cavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealingmeans to provide a temperature stabilizing fluid-vapor interface; a

f. said means providing the temperature-stabilizing fluid-vaporinterface comprises a reservoir containing a non-condensible fluid; and

g. said means establishing the evaporation-condensation flow patterncomprises a capillary flow medium disposed contiguous the wall portionsdefining the cavity and extending between said head of said valve bodyand said reservoir and a charge of volatile and condensible workingfluid in said cavity.

7. A valve member for use in internal combustion engines havingacombustion chamber with intake and exhaust passages communicating withthe combustion chamber and having valve seats at the combustion chamberends of said passages and valve guide means, said valve membercomprising:

a. an elongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;

. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity;

. means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head to said stern portion;

. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heat fromand cooling the valve stem to thereby cool said head of said valve body;

. means within said cavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealingmeans to provide a temperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface;

. said means providing the temperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interfacecomprises a reservoir containing a noncondensible fluid; and

. said means establishing the evaporation-condensation flow patterncomprises a fluid evaporation section within said cavity and disposedadjacent the closed end of said valve body and a fluid con-

1. In an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamberends of said passages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising:a. valve means having a head with a seat engaging portion to close therespective passage and a stem extending from said head, said valve meansbeing reciprocably mounted in the valve guide means; b. an internallysealed cavity within said stem and extending from the head andcontiguous to external surfaces of said stem; c. capillary meansdisposed contiguous the walls of said cavity; d. means cooperating withthe valve guide means for receiving heat from and cooling the valve stemremote from the valve head; and e. a charge of working fluid within saidcavity to establish an evaporation-condensation pattern to remove heatfrom said valve stem and transfer same to the stem end portion.
 2. In aninternal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with intake andexhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamber ends of saidpassages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising: a. anelongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;b. means engaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof tohermetically seal the cavity; c. means within said hermetically sealedcavity to establish an evaporation-condensation flow pattern therein forheat transfer from said head portion to said stem portion, said meansestablishing the evaporation condensation flow pattern including acapillary flow medium disposed contiguous the wall portions defining thecavity and extending between said head of said valve body and adjacentsaid cavity sealing means and a charge of working fluid in said cavity;and d. means cooperating with the valve guide means for receiving heatfrom and cooling the valve stem to thereby cool said head of said valvebody.
 2. a capillary flow medium disposed contiguous the wall portionsdefining the cavity and extending between said head of said valve bodyand said reservoir;
 2. a fluid condenser section within said cavity anddisposed adjacent said cavity sealing means;
 3. a reservoir containing anon-condensible fluid and disposed in said fluid condenser section toprovide a temperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface;
 3. a charge ofvolatile and condensible working fluid in said cavity; and
 3. In aninternal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with intake andexhaust passages and valve seats at the combustion chamber ends of saidpassages and valve guide means, a valve member comprising: a. anelongated valve body having an enlarged head with a seat engagingportion to close the respective passage and a stem portion extendingtherefrom, said valve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guidemeans and having a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wallportions extending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end;b. a reservoir in said cavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealingmeans and containing a non-condensible fluid providing a temperaturestabilizing fluid vapor interface; c. means engaging said valve bodyadjacent the open end thereof to hermetically seal the cavity; d. meanswithin said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head portion to said stem portion; and e. means cooperating withthe valve guide means for receiving heat from and cooling the valve stemto thereby cOol said head of said valve body.
 4. In an internalcombustion engine having a combustion chamber with intake and exhaustpassages and valve seats at the combustion chamber ends of said passagesand valve guide means, a valve member comprising: a. an elongated valvebody having an enlarged head with a seat engaging portion to close therespective passage and a stem portion extending therefrom, said valvebody being reciprocably mounted in the valve guide means and having aclosed end adjacent said head and stem defining wall portions extendingtherefrom and defining a cavity having an open end; b. means engagingsaid valve body adjacent the open end thereof to hermetically seal thecavity; c. means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head portion to said stem portion, said means establishing theevaporation - condensation flow pattern including:
 4. means cooperatingwith the valve guide means for receiving heat from and cooling the valvestem to thereby cool said head of said valve body.
 4. a capillary flowmedium disposed contiguous the wall portions defining the cavity andextending between said fluid evaporation section and said fluidcondenser section;
 5. a charge of volatile and condensible working fluidin said hermetically sealed cavity; and d. means cooperating with thevalve guide means for receiving heat from and cooling the valve stem tothereby cool said head of said valve body.
 5. In an internal combustionengine having a combustion chamber with intake and exhaust passages andvalve seats at the combustion chamber ends of said passages and valveguide means, a valve member comprising: a. an elongated valve bodyhaving an enlarged head with a seat engaging portion to close therespective passage and a stem portion extending therefrom, said valvebody being reciprocably mounted in the valve guide means and having aclosed end adjacent said head and stem defining wall portions extendingtherefrom and defining a cavity having an open end; b. means engagingsaid valve body adjacent the open end thereof to hermetically seal thecavity; c. means within said hermetically sealed cavity to establish anevaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heat transfer fromsaid head portion to said stem portion, said means establishing theevaporation condensation flow pattern including:
 6. A valve member foruse in internal combustion engines having a combustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages communicating with the combustion chamberand having valve seats at the combustion chamber ends of said passagesand valve guide means, said valve member comprising: a. an elongatedvalve body having an enlarged head with a seat engaging portion to closethe respective passage and a stem portion extending therefrom, saidvalve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guide means andhaving a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wall portionsextending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end; b. meansengaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof to hermeticAllyseal the cavity; c. means within said hermetically sealed cavity toestablish an evaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heattransfer from said head to said stem portion; d. means cooperating withthe valve guide means for receiving heat from and cooling the valve stemto thereby cool said head of said valve body; e. means within saidcavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealing means to provide atemperature stabilizing fluid-vapor interface; f. said means providingthe temperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface comprises a reservoircontaining a non-condensible fluid; and g. said means establishing theevaporation-condensation flow pattern comprises a capillary flow mediumdisposed contiguous the wall portions defining the cavity and extendingbetween said head of said valve body and said reservoir and a charge ofvolatile and condensible working fluid in said cavity.
 7. A valve memberfor use in internal combustion engines having a combustion chamber withintake and exhaust passages communicating with the combustion chamberand having valve seats at the combustion chamber ends of said passagesand valve guide means, said valve member comprising: a. an elongatedvalve body having an enlarged head with a seat engaging portion to closethe respective passage and a stem portion extending therefrom, saidvalve body being reciprocably mounted in the valve guide means andhaving a closed end adjacent said head and stem defining wall portionsextending therefrom and defining a cavity having an open end; b. meansengaging said valve body adjacent the open end thereof to hermeticallyseal the cavity; c. means within said hermetically sealed cavity toestablish an evaporation-condensation flow pattern therein for heattransfer from said head to said stem portion; d. means cooperating withthe valve guide means for receiving heat from and cooling the valve stemto thereby cool said head of said valve body; e. means within saidcavity and disposed adjacent said cavity sealing means to provide atemperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface; f. said means providingthe temperature-stabilizing fluid-vapor interface comprises a reservoircontaining a noncondensible fluid; and g. said means establishing theevaporation-condensation flow pattern comprises a fluid evaporationsection within said cavity and disposed adjacent the closed end of saidvalve body and a fluid condenser section within said cavity and disposedadjacent said cavity sealing means and a capillary flow medium disposedcontiguous the wall portions defining the cavity and extending betweensaid fluid evaporation section and said fluid condenser section and acharge of volatile and condensible working fluid in said hermeticallysealed cavity.